Actually, I Am Him: Difference between revisions
→[[Literature]]: Replaced redirects
(→[[Literature]]: Replaced redirects) |
|||
| (14 intermediate revisions by 9 users not shown) | |||
Line 2:
[[File:edised.png|link=Fullmetal Alchemist (manga)|thumb|400px|Hmm, think he [[Running Gag|might have had]] [[Expecting Someone Taller|this problem]] [[Berserk Button|before]]?]]
{{quote|'''Obi-Wan:''' Obi-Wan Kenobi? Obi-Wan. Now that's a name I
'''Luke:''' I think my uncle knows him. He said he was dead.
'''Obi-Wan:''' Oh, he's not dead. Not yet.
'''Luke:''' Do you know him?
'''Obi-Wan:''' [[Memetic Mutation|Well ''of course'' I know him! He's ''me.''
|''[[Star Wars]]: [[A New Hope]]''}}
A [[Characters|character]], usually the [[The Protagonist|protagonist]], is looking for someone, often an older, wiser character. During the search, he meets a stranger, and the conversation turns to the sought-after character. The stranger will typically either respond, "Oh, I know him well..." or else act as if he's never heard of the person. Either way, in time it is revealed that this stranger ''is'' the sought-after character.
Often, the stranger is [[Obfuscating Stupidity|playing dumb]] about their true identity in order to [[Secret Test of Character|assess the searcher's character]] and intentions, the idea being that the searcher's behavior will be more genuine in the presence of someone they perceive to be just an ordinary stranger. This can lead to a painful lesson for the searcher once he learns the truth about the stranger, making this a favorite form of introduction among [[Trickster Mentor
Further confusion can arise if the sought-after character is of a different gender, race, species, etc. than the searcher was expecting, such as when a sought-after "doctor" turns out to be a [[Hot Scientist|woman scientist]]. Or maybe the searcher was just [[Expecting Someone Taller]].
Line 17 ⟶ 20:
'''Given that this trope is about a plot twist, there be spoilers.'''
{{examples}}▼
▲{{examples}}
== [[Anime]] and [[Manga]] ==
* Happens at the end of the first ''[[Baccano!]]!'' [[Light Novel]], when a Japanese tourist in the [[Framing Device|frame story]] decides to ask the narrator (whom is assumed to be Maiza) [[Where Are They Now|where Firo is now]], seeing as he's not present like everyone else is. "Maiza" responds...?
{{quote|Isn't he right here?...Oh, That's right, I have yet to introduce myself. Well, normally with business associations, I just leave without having ever said my name...}}
* In a particularly funny example, in ''[[Black Cat (manga)|Black Cat]]'', Train eventually acquires an imposter, who the gang meets. Sven and Eve want to smack him upside the head, but Train listens to his wild stories with a look of wonder on his face, and eventually agrees to become the imposter's apprentice. When people challenge the imposter, Train steps up to the plate, claiming that the other guys aren't "worthy for [Train's] master to spit on." THEN the imposter notices the XIII tattoo, and the unique gun...
Line 28 ⟶ 31:
{{quote|'''L''': "I've found that people who try to find me usually fall for this."}}
* A thorn in Edward's side in ''[[Fullmetal Alchemist (manga)|Fullmetal Alchemist]]'', that people are more willing to believe that Alphonse is the infamous "Fullmetal Alchemist" and not him. (Al ''is'' a walking [[Animated Armor|suit of armor]]...)
* Played with in ''[[
* Team Satomi's coach, Andre, in ''[[IGPX: Immortal Grand Prix]]'' turns out to be {{spoiler|[[Ace Pilot|The Rocket]].}}
** Also, Team White Snow's captain isn't Zanak, {{spoiler|it's Max}}, although it's easy to make the mistake since he's the Forward and all the other team captains are Forwards.
Line 39 ⟶ 42:
* Happens over and over consecutively in almost every town the Sanzo party enters in [[Saiyuki]]. Quite often word reaches villages that the great Sanzo-party has happened through the area in which many humans search after them for blessings while many youkai look to eliminate them. What they don't expect is for the Great Holy Preist Genjo Sanzo to be a young [[Jerkass]] man with a gun and a smoking problem, and his holy followers a group of youkai.
** In fact, it has happened so often that when for the first time it doesn't happen to them but instead, another group of wandering demon-slayers, they're actually taken by surprise.
* In the Soul Society arc in ''[[Bleach]]'', Ichigo and his friends pay a visit to an old friend of Yoruichi, who would help them break into the Seretei. Because this mysterious' friend's name is Kukaku, which is said to be a pretty manly
* Hilariously inverted in ''[[Dragon Ball]]'', where, upon meeting a normal monkey, the [[Genre Savvy]] Goku instantly assumed him to be the legendary King Kai, and spent a while fooling around with him before the real Kai - who himself could easily qualify for this trope under different circumstances, what with how he looks and acts - shows up.
* In ''[[Vision of Escaflowne]]'' [[The Movie]], Van and Hitomi are looking for a man named Dryden Fassa - then they meet someone who pretends not to know who Dryden Fassa is, before turning out to be actually him.
== [[Comic Books]] ==▼
▲== Comic Books ==
* In issue #101 of the French comic book ''Donjon/Dungeon'' (''Twilight, vol. 1: Dragon Cemetery'', in English), when Marvin the Red meets his idol Marvin the Dragon, the latter first pretends to be someone else.
* When Bruce Banner goes looking for the Panchen Lama in ''Ultimate [[Wolverine]] vs. [[Hulk]]'', he is greeted at the monastery doors by a wizened old man who assures him that the Lama is inside and offers him hot cocoa. Banner shows a [[Genre Savvy]] flash by assuming the old man is the Panchen Lama, calling it "one of those Yoda things"... but [[Averted Trope|nope]]. He's talking to Steve, who makes hot cocoa.
* The "Pagliacci" joke that Rorschach heard from the Comedian in ''[[Watchmen (comics)|Watchmen]]''.
== [[Film]] ==
* In ''[[American Wedding]]'', the main characters go into a gay bar unknowingly looking for a dress designer (named Leslie, I
* In the 1989 ''[[Batman (film)|Batman]]'' film, Vicki Vale corners a man at a swish party at Wayne Manor and asks whether he's seen elusive billionaire Bruce Wayne. He says he hasn't. Later, as she and Alex Knox are in one of Wayne's rooms, making fun of the statues, the man appears behind them and informs them that the statue they're currently laughing at comes from Japan. How does he know? "Because I bought it in Japan. Bruce Wayne."
* ''[[Batman Begins]]''. In order to get the needed training for his war on crime, Bruce seeks out Ra's Al Ghul, the head of the Asian group League of Assassins. Instead, he ends up dealing mainly with [[The Dragon]], Ra's more <s> Scottish</s>[[Scotireland|Irish]]-looking second in command. Ra's tends to sit in the background and be imposing while his lackey does all the work of teaching Bruce all he needs to know to be awesome. Much drama ensues and when everything explodes, Bruce explicitly saves [[The Dragon]]. Much later it's revealed [[The Dragon]] was the [[Big Bad]] all along.
Line 56 ⟶ 58:
* Subverted in ''[[Die Hard]]'' when the hero and the [[Big Bad]] meet. {{spoiler|1=It looks like Gruber tricks McClane, but in fact McClane sees through it and gives his adversary an unloaded weapon.}}
* In ''The Distinguished Gentleman'', when Eddie Murphy's love-interest-to-be enters a reception for the new Congressman Johnson (Murphy), she goes right up to him first and asks where Congressman Johnson is, then goes on to bad-mouth him a bit before he reveals his Congressman's pin (hidden behind a clipboard he's holding).
* Used in Jackie Chan's ''The Drunken Master'', where the main character Wong Fei-Hung flees from home in fear of being sent to train with the infamous Beggar So, master of the style of the eight drunk gods. He meets an old geezer who displays some highly unusual but equally effective moves, and they share a leg of the
* In ''El Diablo'', Anthony Edwards' character is searching for legendary "Kid Durango" with the help of a man named Van Leek only to later discover that the exploits of Kid Durango are based on the adventures of Van Leek.
* Sort of done in ''[[Face Off]]'': "I am Castor Troy!"
* Dragged out to a painful degree in the ''[[Mystery Science Theater 3000]]'' subject ''[[Giant Spider Invasion]]'', where the leading man meets the female scientist and persists in believing he must ''really'' be meeting with some male relative of hers for some time before she explains that, no really, ''she's'' the "doctor" he has an appointment with.
* Phil in Disney's ''[[Hercules (
* ''[[Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade]]'': Dr. Elsa Schneider.
* In ''[[Kill Bill|Kill Bill: Volume 1]]'', The Bride pretends to be an American tourist upon first meeting Hattori Hanzo in his Sushi restaurant.
Line 79 ⟶ 81:
* In the movie version of ''[[Clue (film)|Clue]]'', in one of the possible endings, Wadsworth reveals himself as Mr. Boddy, saying that the alleged Mr. Boddy was, in fact, his butler, and not the other way around.
== [[Literature]] ==▼
▲== Literature ==
* [[Robert A. Heinlein]]'s short story ''[[All You Zombies]]'' in which, {{spoiler|thanks to a great big [[Timey-Wimey Ball]], every character, [[Grandfather Paradox|male]] or [[Squick|female]], was actually the same person.}}
* In ''Assassin's Apprentice'', the first book of the ''[[Realm of the Elderlings|Farseer]]'' trilogy by [[Robin Hobb]], Fitz asks a woman where he can find Hod, who is going to teach him swordfighting. Naturally, the woman is Hod.
Line 95 ⟶ 96:
{{quote|'''Wedge''': "You recall mentioning that you'd killed plenty of Rogue Squadron members at Brentaal, and that Wedge Antilles would be back?"
'''Lorrir''': "Y-yes?"
'''Wedge''': "You were right. I'm Wedge Antilles. I'm back."
* In one of the ''[[1632]]'' novels by Eric Flint, a young lady accused of witchcraft is brought to the American territory. Because the Americans have to get along with their 17th century neighbors, a new trial is convened. Going through their research material for the period, one of the Americans remarks that they need one particular historical figure to help them with the case, a famous individual who had historically opposed witch trials. By coincidence the person they were speaking of is the same one who brought the girl to them in the first place.
* ''[[Judge Dee]]'' frequently disguises himself as a peasant or travelling martial arts instructor (the latter suits him much better) during his investigations. This frequently results in him dropping "''I'' am the magistrate" when things get serious and someone suggests to report to the judge.
* ''[[Discworld]]'':
** A variant in ''[[
** This happens again
**
* In one of the ''MYTH Inc.'' novels, Skeeve gets set up on a blind date with a vampire, Cassandra. For whatever reason, she doesn't ask his name, and later she remarks, "Say, you're a friend of Vic's from Klah... do you know the Great Skeeve?" He plays along for a little while before revealing his identity.
* The last [[Sherlock Holmes]] novel, "The Valley of Fear", culminates in the infiltration of a criminal gang by a man from Pinkerton's. A trap is set for the private investigator, where it is revealed that {{spoiler|[[The Dragon|McMurdo]] is [[The Mole|Birdy Edwards]].}}
* In ''[[Harry Potter and
* In one of the ''[[Star Trek: Stargazer]]'' novels, Admiral McAteer is strolling the Starfleet Academy grounds, and starts thinking about Boothby, whom he admires. At least, he's heard good things about the man. He encounters an elderly groundskeeper whose general attitude annoys him (and who has the gall to tell him off). Eventually, he demands the groundskeeper's name. Upon being told he's talking to Boothby, McAteer walks off spluttering.
* Toward the close of [[Georgette Heyer]]'s ''Devil's Cub'', heroine Mary meets an elderly gentleman to whom she confides her worries about how badly her love interest's father, a wealthy duke, will take the fact that the young man wants to marry her. She says that she's heard the duke is a sinister and scheming figure. When the truth comes out (he married late in life, which is why he's ''so'' much older than his son), he says calmly that, yes, her description of his character was quite accurate. On the other hand, {{spoiler|(approximate quote) "...if you can bring yourself to marry my son, I will be in your debt. But I feel I must advise you that you can do better."}}
* Howard Pyle's [[Robin Hood]] includes a scene in which Robin is drinking with a tinker who says he's looking for Robin Hood, with intention to turn him in to the Sheriff for a reward. Robin makes him drunk and goes off with his purse, leaving him to foot the bill.
* [[Biggles]] enters the Nazi Air Force under the name of Hendrik, claiming to be Norwegian.
{{quote|'''Biggles''': Fair hair ... blue eyes ... as a matter of fact, he was about my build.
'''The Nazi''': He must have been very like you.
'''Biggles''': No one has ever mistaken me for him. }}
▲== Live Action TV ==
* People looking for ''[[The A-Team]]'' usually found Hannibal in disguise when they met with the person who was supposed to get them in contact.
* Doctor Franklin from ''[[Babylon 5]]'' has a reputation for taking his oath of confidentiality very seriously, so when he arrives with an offer to set up a meeting between Captain Sheridan and the man in charge of smuggling fugitive telepaths through the station, nobody is surprised. You already know who the meeting turns out to be with.
Line 116 ⟶ 123:
* Used hilariously on [[Neighbours]] when Steph is annoyed with her mother for wanting her to talk to the new local priest, and starts complaining about her, and the priesthood in general, to a stranger she meets outside the church. The man then joins in complaining, leading Steph to figure it out quickly.
* The latter part of the second season of ''[[Dollhouse]]'' features the search for the head of Rossum, a mysterious person who hasn't been seen in public and may be to blame for everything in the show. {{spoiler|Boyd is the head of Rossum.}}
* Happens in the
* On the first episode of ''[[News Radio]]'', Dave Nelson turns up at the wrong building for his first day of work as news director of WNYX. When he shows up late at the correct building, he is looking for his new boss, billionaire Jimmy James, whom he has never met in person. He runs into him immediately, and asks him where Mr. James' office is. Mr. James gives him directions before telling him that he's not in there right now. Dave asks where he is, and in response Mr. James just stares at him, leading a nervous Dave to ask, "...Mr. James?"
* Done by proxy in ''[[Happy Days]]'' when a man tracks down Fonzie to give him a letter from his estranged father. The letter begins "If you're reading this I didn't have the guts to tell you it was me who gave it to you."
== Religion and Mythology ==
* This is [[Older Than Feudalism|a very old trope]]: Jesus (I am that I am...) does it in [[The Bible]] no fewer than three times after his resurrection, showing himself to the
* This also happens to Saul in 'I Samuel' when meeting Samuel for the first time. Saul is looking for a prophet of God and goes to a town where one is reputably staying. Thinking that he is just a citizen of the town, Saul approached Samuel and asks where the prophet is. Samuel informs Saul that he is the one Saul is searching for.
* Subverted in a vignette of a third party ''[[Dungeons
==
▲* Subverted in a vignette of a third party ''[[Dungeons and Dragons]]'' supplement, where a warrior seeking a martial arts teacher is first greeted by a humble, chuckling old man who claims he knows the teacher very well--only to step aside as the actual teacher, a large, muscular warrior tells him to be quiet and welcomes the would-be student.
* ''She Stoops To Conquer'' takes place almost entirely within the space between the deceit and the revelation. Charles Marlow, on the way to a blind date, stops at what he thinks is an inn and flirts with the barmaid. He's actually at the manor he was traveling to, and the barmaid is his date.
* In ''Camelot'', a nervous King Arthur and Queen-to-be Guinevere run into each other before the wedding. Guinevere, not knowing it's Arthur, complains a bit about having to marry a total stranger and is assured that the king isn't really all that bad.
== [[Video Games]] ==
* Played very simply in ''[[Assassin's Creed:
▲== Video Games ==
▲* Played very simply in ''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood|Assassin's Creed Brotherhood]]'', where Ezio helps a woman carry a box and talks to her about Ezio, eventually revealing that he ''is'' Ezio.
* In ''[[The World Ends With You]]'': {{spoiler|Quoth Joshua: "It was me, Neku. I'm Shibuya's Composer."}} Cue Neku's [[Heroic BSOD|Heroic Blue Screen of Death]].
* ''[[Seiken Densetsu]] 3'' has a sequence in which the party needs to find a legendary (and tiny) strategist. The old man in town tells them that he's not in this place, and suggests they ask around. After a long fruitless search, they come back only to be told that the old man ''is'' the strategist. Justified with "I was walking around at the time, so I wasn't in any place". And then the town mocks them for their gullibility. * grumble*
Line 164 ⟶ 167:
* In ''[[Mabinogi (video game)|Mabinogi]]'' the {{spoiler|wandering merchant Price}} helps you try to find the {{spoiler|missing ex-paladin leader Redire, it is later revealed that Price IS Redire.}}
== [[Web Comics]] ==▼
▲== Web Comics ==
* ''[[Inverloch]]'' gets insidious with this, between Silvah/Kayn'dar {{spoiler|--and Acheron/Kayn'dar}}.
* In ''[[Hanna Is Not a Boy's Name]]'' a certain paranormal investigator is often thought to be the sidekick to his undead (and nameless) companion. Usually his clients were [[Expecting Someone Taller]].
* Happens in ''[[Girls with Slingshots]]'' when Hazel is trying to spy on Jamie, and the person she believes to be Jamie's new boyfriend, by enlisting Jamie's new ''girlfriend''.
== [[Web Original]] ==▼
▲== Web Original ==
* [[Asdfmovie]] does this.
{{quote|Guy 1: Did you take my sandwich?
Guy 2: I am your sandwich. }}
== [[Western Animation]] ==▼
▲== Western Animation ==
* Aang in the first episode and a half of ''[[Avatar: The Last Airbender]]''. The others weren't actually looking for the Avatar, but their reactions when they find out that that's him definitely fit.
* Master Dashi in ''[[Xiaolin Showdown]]''.{{context}}
* The True Master in the ''[[Teen Titans (animation)|Teen Titans]]'' episode "The Quest" has a [[Lampshade Hanging]] at the end of it. Robin wanted to do things the hard way, so she let him.
* From ''[[Looney Tunes|The Wild Hare]]'':
{{quote|'''[[Bugs Bunny/Characters|Bugs Bunny]]:''' What's up, Doc?
'''Elmer Fudd:''' Shh... There's a [[Elmuh Fudd Syndwome|wabbit]] down there, and I'm trying to catch him.
'''Bugs:''' What do you mean a "wabbit?"
'''Elmer:''' Wabbits! Wabbits! You know, with big wong ears!
'''Bugs:''' Oh, like these? (shows his ears)
'''Elmer:''' Yeah, and a little white fwuffy tail!
'''Bugs:''' Like this? (shows off his tail)
'''Elmer:''' Yeah, and he hops awound and awound.
'''Bugs:''' Like this? (hops around)
'''Elmer:''' (to the audience) You know I bewieve this fella is an R. A. B. B. I. T. (to Bugs) Pardon me, but you know, [[Captain Obvious|you look just wike a wabbit]].
'''Bugs:''' Ehhh, c'mere. Now listen, Doc, now don't spread this around, but... uhhh... confidentially... I AM A WABBIT!!! }}
* In the first ''[[Pirates of Dark Water]]'', Ren seeks out the wise man Alomar in the Abby of Galdebar. First he meets an imposing man, who he assumes is Alomar, but he's just a servant. Next he encounters a fearsome dragon, who it turns out is Alomar.
* Inverted in the ''[[Justice League]]'' episode "A better world": The Justice League are trapped in an [[Alternate Universe]] ruled by [[Knight Templar]] [[Evil Counterpart
{{quote|'''Superman:''' You fooled them all. Even ''I'' thought you were him!
'''Lord Batman:''' I ''am'' him. }}
Line 200:
* An episode of the ''[[Pole Position (animation)|Pole Position]]'' animated series had the characters sent to retrieve a sensitive research satellite for a "Doctor T. Russell." Along the way, they're helped by this flannel-wearing, backwoods-type [[Cool Old Lady]] named "Dora." Meanwhile two fellows, both claiming to be "Dr. Ted Russell" and "Dr. Tom Russell" are trying to get the satellite. The protagonists finally find it...and the backwoods-lady reveals that they're ''both'' industrial spies. Her full name is Dr. ''Theodora'' Russell, and she just happens to live out in the middle of nowhere.
== [[Real Life]] ==▼
▲== Real Life ==
* Nestor Makhno, the great Ukrainian anarchist revolutionary, caught a group of German officers going to a party held in their honour by Ukrainian landlords, who had welcomed the invading Germans. After executing the officers, Makhno and his men dressed in the German army uniforms and attended the party in their stead. Much of the conversation at the dinner party circled around Makhno. At the end of the meal, a toast was offered to the capture of the dreaded anarchist Nestor Makhno. Makhno drank off the toast and announced, [[Crowning Moment of Awesome|"I am Nestor Makhno."]] In the silence and horror which followed, Makhno tossed a bomb into the room as he and his men leaped out the windows and escaped.
* [[Truth in Television]], sort of: A president-elect, governor, business leader, etc., initiates a search committee to fill an appointed position, but ends up picking someone on the committee or the person who had already been helping him in that area anyway.
Line 207 ⟶ 206:
** The 2005 papal conclave following the death of Pope John Paul II was presided over by one Joseph Ratzinger, then Dean of the College of Cardinals, and shortly thereafter was elected Pope Benedict XVI.
*** Though the Cardinal was leader of the enclave ''ex officio'', and was considered, as it were, the frontrunner even before John Paul II was dead.
**** Though it is widely perceived that Ratzinger hijacked the conclave to
* Subverted in [[Real Life]]: [[wikipedia:David Livingstone|Dr. Livingstone, I presume?]]
* Retail employees live for saying or hearing the phrase 'I AM the manager' in response to a customer being
** That is trumped by the phrase “[http://notalwaysright.com/even-owners-have-a-stupid-quota/453 I am] ''[http://notalwaysright.com/even-owners-have-a-stupid-quota-part-2/675 the owner]''” though.
* Tends to happen a lot when someone asks for a [[
* There's an Italian joke subverting this trope: Jesus walks along the street when he sees a sad old man sitting on a bench. He stops and asks him what his name is and why he is sad. He says his name is Joseph and he has lost his son. "How do you recognise your son?" "He has nails in his hands and feet." "Father!" "Pinocchio!"
** [[Bilingual Bonus|Gepetto is an Italian
* At one point right after confederation, Sir John A Macdonald (the first Prime Minister of Canada) was at a diplomatic reception in Washington, D.C., where he struck up a conversation with an American senator's wife. When he revealed he was from Canada, she began asking about his Prime Minister, stating she had heard stories that he was a drunk and a rogue. Sir John A agreed with her on both points, at which point the senator himself wandered over and fully introduced him.
* [http://notalwaysright.com/this-teacher-will-keep-you-on-your-toes/4837 This story.]
* [[Kevin Smith]] once attended a picket line of ''[[Dogma]]'' as a picketer. A reporter covering the event ''almost'' figured him out, but Smith introduced himself using his friend's name (who was standing right next to him).
** Doubly hilarious since the friend in question (Bryan Johnson) is given a [[Shout-Out]] ''in [[Dogma]]''... as a boy who urinated on the protagonists head and [[Butt Monkey|later died]].
* Painter Gilbert Stuart had a
** A man was riding along when he saw an officer who was ordering soldiers to lift timber but not doing anything to help them. The rider asked him why he was just standing there; the officer sneered, "Why sir, I'm a corporal!" Upon hearing this, the stranger promptly dismounted and spent several minutes helping the men move the timber. As he was about to ride off, he turned to the pompous corporal and quietly said, "The next time you have a piece of timber for your men to handle, corporal, send for your commander-in-chief." It was {{spoiler|G-Dubs}}.
*** [[Small Reference Pools|And he would be...?]]
Line 237 ⟶ 236:
{{reflist}}
[[Category:Unisex Tropes]]
[[Category:I Am an Index]]
[[Category:Universal Tropes]]
[[Category:Older Than Feudalism]]
▲[[Category:Actually, I Am Him]]
[[Category:Identity Index]]
| |||